On the Authority in the Church: Yves Congarâ•Žs Vision of Collegiality In
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Santa Clara University Scholar Commons Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations Student Scholarship 5-2018 On the Authority in the Church: Yves Congar’s Vision of Collegiality in Evangelizing Secularity Pius Youn Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Youn, Pius, "On the Authority in the Church: Yves Congar’s Vision of Collegiality in Evangelizing Secularity" (2018). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 34. https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/34 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ON THE AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH: YVES CONGAR’S VISION OF COLLEGIALITY IN EVANGELIZING SECULARITY A thesis by Pius Youn, O.P. presented to The Faculty of the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Licentiate in Sacred Theology Berkeley, California May 2018 Committee Signatures _________________________________________________ Anh Q. Tran, S.J., Ph.D., Director Date _________________________________________________ Hilary Martin, O.P., Ph.D., Reader Date _________________________________________________ Michael Sweeney, O.P., M.Div., Reader Date To my parents, Sok-Hoe Joseph and Sang-Woo Gina Youn from whom I received the Catholic faith and to Fr. John P. McGuire, O.P. who saved my faith in college ii CONTENTS ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. vi ABBREVIATIONS .......................................................................................................... vii INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................1 Chapter 1: Evangelization of Secularity by Diversity of Ministry ......................................7 1.1 Tension between Greco-Roman and Enlightenment Cultures ...........................7 1.2 Secular Dimension to the Church ....................................................................15 1.3 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................18 Chapter 2: Authority of the Priesthood in the Church .......................................................20 2.1 Inward Sacrificial Priesthood of the People of God ........................................20 2.2 Distinction between Common and Ministerial Priesthood ..............................24 2.3 Lay Ecclesial Office .........................................................................................33 2.4 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................38 Chapter 3: Ecclesial Exercise of Authority ........................................................................40 3.1 Transmission of Faith ......................................................................................40 3.2 The Office of Bishops ......................................................................................44 3.3 Ecclesial Structure ...........................................................................................52 3.4 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................57 Chapter 4: Reform and Collegiality ...................................................................................58 4.1 Reform in the Church.......................................................................................59 4.2 Collegiality and Reform ...................................................................................66 4.3 Chapter Summary ............................................................................................78 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................80 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..............................................................................................................84 iii ABSTRACT In the public sphere of contemporary Western society, its post-Enlightenment culture is secular at large. Encouraged by the principle of equality upon which the United States of America was founded, the current culture promotes a subjective and individual mindset, which demands that everyone, regardless of gender, race, or class, possess equal representation in all fields of duty. Against this individualistic egalitarianism, the Church can seem to lag behind the times because she operates from a different model than that of modern society. While most societies in the West espouse a democratic culture and representative participation at every level of governance, the Church seems to continue the hierarchical model of the past in its operation. Yet, is it true to state that the Church is “hierarchical?” If so, what does that entail? With an ongoing tension between the Church and secularity, a genuine discussion is necessary to mend the challenges and misunderstandings. While the secular society, at times, promotes ideologies that contradict church teachings, there also is a secular dimension to the Church. In this sense, church and society are not against each another; rather, she is found within society carrying out her tasks in the temporal order. As such, the lay people who share in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly offices by the virtue of their baptism have a particular vocation to evangelize secularity. More precisely, they are secular and they encounter secularity in their daily life. With the authority that they hold in the Church, they bring Christ to those who they encounter daily. The Church, in this light, is within the culture at large. iv The secular dimension of the Church can flourish if the authorities within the Church work in a collegial manner. In other words, the lay people must have a genuine dialogue with the magisterium and theologians so that the truths of the faith will influence secularity. Collegiality, however, should not be mistaken for democracy. While it is understandable that Americans, who are used to democratic structures, may push for more participation by disregarding her teachings, the nature of the Church is more complex than a mere political system. This thesis acknowledges the proper authority which is given to each group within the Church, both in the sacraments and in jurisdiction. The ongoing conversation in the thesis treats the nature, leadership, and authority of the Church that is scriptural and traditional. The ideas contained in the works of Yves Congar will ultimately help in resolving the challenges that the Church face today. By speaking about his perception of authority that is given to every individual in the Church, this thesis clarifies for the readers the proper function of priests, bishops, and laity, functions which, in the past, have been overly confused and even abused. As a result, the resolution of current challenges will encourage the entire People of God to live out pastorally the sacramental and juridical functions that they hold. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to first thank Anh Tran, S.J. for helping me throughout the STL program. Writing the thesis before the priestly ordination can be somewhat agonizing due to the mind floating around in various places, yet he disciplined me well in finishing the task diligently and without anxiety. I would also like to thank Hilary Martin, O.P. and Michael Sweeney, O.P., the readers of the thesis. Intellectual conversations about the Church at St. Albert’s Priory in Oakland, especially during recreation, helped me tremendously in understanding the prevalent thoughts of the contemporary culture and of the history of the Church. By speaking to them, I learned how to do theology in consideration of the contemporary secular culture. vi ABBREVIATIONS AA Apostolicam Actuositatem AL Amoris Laetitia AP Aeterni Patris CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church CIC Corpus iuris canonici (1983 Code of Canon Law) CL Christifideles Laici DV Dei Verbum GS Gaudium et Spes II Inter Insigniores Jn John LG Lumen Gentium LS Laudato Si Lk Luke MD Mediator Dei Mt Matthew PO Presbyterorum Ordinis PT Pacem et Terris RM Redemptoris Missio SC Sacrosanctum Concilium ST Summa Theologica Thess Thessalonians vii Introduction Yves Congar (1904-1995), a French Dominican, ecclesiologist and ministerial priest, understood the “signs of the times” in which he was writing. During his lifetime, he influenced the Church by writing about an ecclesial structure that is collegial, that is reformed in such a way as to promote a healthy balance of authority, and that allows the laity to exercise their authority in the Church. He was highly aware of the fact that secular Western culture seeks a democratic mindset which encourages authentic criticism of institutions. As a churchman and as a theologian, how did he resolve the difference between the values of the post-Enlightenment West, especially with its radical approach to individualism, and of the Church? With regard to sacraments, jurisdiction, and morality, there are various functions of authority in the Church. For instance, the Constitution of Vatican II on sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium,